For 20 years, Cœur de Forêt has been working to restore the precious balance between forests and humans by focusing on the regeneration of forested areas, either through planting or by supporting the natural dynamics of forests. Additionally, it aims to preserve existing spaces by directly addressing the causes of deforestation and degradation.
Cœur de Forêt operates in four countries: Madagascar, Indonesia, and Bolivia, where it supports local populations in changing their agricultural practices, as these practices contribute to deforestation. The organization guides them towards agroecology. In France, it assists landowners in better managing their forests, which make up 75% of the territory, to enhance resilience against climate change.
"The most challenging aspect of preserving forests today is simply knowing them,” explains Charlotte Meyrueis. “We start by collecting information about plants through inventories or anthropological studies of the relationship between local populations and aromatic and medicinal plants, as well as local flora and fauna. Once we have this knowledge, the question becomes how do we pass it on to future generations?”
This transmission can take the form of programs within schools, traveling exhibitions, and media outreach. "Often, we encounter audiences who are unaware that forests have value, so we demonstrate to them that they have a unique forest and biodiversity, making them somewhat responsible and giving them the opportunity to preserve it in the future".
The forest produces wood and allows for activities such as mushroom picking, which meet human needs, but above all, the forest is a habitat. "It is home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. When a forest thrives, it can also provide ecosystem services, meaning it captures carbon, contributes to water cycle preservation, and combats erosion. That’s why it’s important to keep it healthy.”
"I believe that what we bring today is a lot of hope,” emphasizes Charlotte Meyrueis. “We are field actors, working hand in hand with producers or owners of small forests. Our goal is to support change. That’s our specificity. We shift perspectives because we transform how we view nature, agricultural or forestry practices. We also change the perception of international solidarity.”
